A Fountain of Cleansing

Nikolle Bauder • March 30, 2022

Notes from Pastor Ky Martin's message on Zechariah 12 and 13.


This past Sunday we wrapped up our time in Zechariah.


As Pastor Ky mentioned on Sunday, we chose this book for many reasons – references to Zechariah are mentioned 67 times(!) in the New Testament; and, especially in this season leading up to Easter, we learn so much about Jesus and the plan that God had for His people all along.


To recap...


In Chapter 2, we see that He will come and create the church. We also see the man with the measuring line, fulfilled in the establishment of the church. In this, God roused Himself in order to fulfill this promise. This prophecy was fulfilled at the coming of Christ, when He roused Himself not just to intercede, but even to walk among us.


In Chapter 3, we learn that a better high priest than Joshua was coming. This priest would be from the branch of David, and would fulfill the promise of removing all iniquity in a single day.


In Chapter 6, we learn about the Priest King.


In Chapter 8, we learn of the Jew whose robe is touched for healing. Zechariah prophesied that all nations would come to seek God in Jerusalem, grabbing the edge of their robe, thinking: if only I can have some sort of small connection with one of God’s people, then I might share in this blessing. This image reminds us of the woman who was healed by touching the edge of Jesus’ robe.


In Chapter 9, we see the King entering on a donkey.


In Chapter 10, we learn about the commander of the wind and the waves. In this chapter is foretold a leader who would “Pass through the sea of troubles and calm the waves of the sea.” This promised leader’s power would be so great that even the wind and seas obey Him.


In Chapter 11, the Good Shepherd is betrayed with 30 pieces of silver. We saw Zechariah acting out the role of a good shepherd with two staffs – favor and unity. But rather than being accepted, he’s rejected and given 30 pieces of silver that he donates to the temple potter.


To set the stage for Easter, this week (Zechariah 12 and 13) Zechariah zeroes in on a few key prophecies that point to Jesus and His work on the cross.


Zechariah prophecies that…


God will be pierced by His people. (Zech 13:1)


God’s people will mourn.


Acts 2:22-24, 37, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men…. Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”


These men were so hostile to Jesus that even though He had hurt no person and done no wrong, they cried out for His crucifixion while petitioning that a robber be spared.


The 180-degree change they experienced can only be explained by God’s Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, God poured out a spirit of grace upon those who rejected the Good Shepherd and pierced the Son, leading them to mourn over what they’d done and to repent.


God’s people will scatter. (Zechariah 13:7)


Matthew 26:30-31, “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”


A fountain of cleansing will be opened. (Zechariah 13:1)

  • God killed the Good Shepherd (Zechariah 13:7)
  • The shepherd is “struck”


In Exodus, the Israelites had been grumbling because they had no water. God then instructed Moses to strike a rock and “water shall come out of it.” And it was so. (Exodus 17:3-6)


Likewise, the rock struck here gave life to a stubborn, rebellious people.


The fountain is the cleansing blood of Jesus.


Compared to stagnant/limited water of the Old Testament, the water mentioned here is a FOUNTAIN: gushing, abundant, self-sustaining, and available.


“Terribly black must that guilt be for which nothing but the blood of the Son of God could make satisfaction. Heavy must that weight of human sin be which made Jesus groan and sweat drops of blood in agony at Gethsemane.” – J.C. Ryle, The Sinfulness of Sin


How abundant was the payment that Christ made with His blood, that after Jesus was struck – grace and forgiveness flow forth like a fountain for all who would believe.



Freed to Serve

April 28, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:11-17 This is the beginning of a section addressing how God's people now function in this world. It begins with aliens and exiles and continues with servants, wives, husbands, and finally, all of you. 1.) Our identity defines our actions. We are sojourners and exiles (temporary, passing through, not at home) We have a heavenly citizenship Actions We abstain from the passions of the flesh Keep conduct among the Gentiles honorable (our conduct is for the benefit of other people) Honorable conduct wins souls… sojourners, exiles, and soul winners “Peter’s point is that believers’ behavior creates a context in which people will listen to God’s word. He is not teaching that ‘good deeds’ in themselves convert unbelievers, but they establish an environment for the Gospel-word to do so.” -Barnett 2.) Our identity defines our expectations (Unbelievers will respond to honorable conduct in 1 of 2 ways) Some will speak evil against us as though we are evildoers Some will see our good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation 3.) Our identity defines our view of authority (Does anyone here ever just want to do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it? That’s why laws exist) Be subject to every human institution (for the Lord's sake) This includes governors and emperors (no distinction between good/bad) The will of God... by doing good, we silence the ignorance of foolish people 4.) Our identity defines our view of freedom Don't use freedom as a cover-up for evil We are freed to serve God Honor, Love, and Fear Discipleship Questions: 1.)Why is it so important to understand our identity before talking about our behavior? 2.) How might this reality impact your parenting? For real, what are 3 ways that you can apply that this week? 3.) How is good conduct a form of evangelism? 4.) What do these verses say that we can expect from others? 5.) How can we honor a government that isn't always honorable? Seriously, what are 5 things we should immediately stop doing and 5 things we should immediately start doing? 6.) What are some tangible ways to honor others? Love the brotherhood? Fear God? Honor the Emperor? 7.) Should we fear the Emperor?

Cornerstone

April 22, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:4-10 Everyone must accept or reject Jesus. He is the cornerstone. We choose to accept Him as the foundation of our lives or toss the truth aside. When we come to Jesus… We become part of His People 1 Pe 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The cornerstone is The New Temple. From this we learn that following Christ entails joining his community, the church…The freelance Christian, who follows Jesus but is too good, too busy, or too self-sufficient for the church, is a walking contradiction. -Daniel M. Doriani We join a royal, holy, priesthood 1 Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Because of who Jesus makes us. We receive God’s mercy Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms….Now repentance is no fun at all. It is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means undergoing a kind of death. Acts 17:30-31 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Discipleship Questions: Why is it impossible to be neutral about Jesus? Why do you believe that Jesus truly is the Son of God? Do you ever have doubts about this? If yes, what are they? According to 1 Peter 2:9, who are we after we come to Christ? Why does Paul say (in 1 Corinthians) that if Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain?

Born Again

April 16, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:2-3 Why do our souls ache for certainty? We are so eager for certainty that we will look for it in all the wrong places. - Certainty in our Finances [show slide from news] - Certainty in our Jobs [Acts 17:24-27] - Certainty in our Health [Covid] - Certainty in our Abilities [Ecclesiastes 3:11 “God has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”] “Things that have never happened before are happening every day.” -Morgan Housel In these verses, God gives us what our souls ache for! 1.) You must be born again of imperishable seed - We have all been born of perishable seed o Impure souls o Disobedient to truth o Unloving insincerity toward others o Lack of loving effort o Impure hearts - We are withering grass and falling flowers - The imperishable seed is the living and abiding Word of God o Does not wither o Does not fall o Does not let us down o It remains forever o It MUST BE PREACHED! But still, how can we be certain that we have been born again? 2.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your relationships When your relationship with God changes, God changes your relationships! - Sincere brotherly love - Love earnestly - Put away… o Malice o Deceit o Hypocrisy o Envy o All Slander 3.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your appetite for God’s Word - Like newborn infants - Long for the pure spiritual milk Discipleship Questions: 1.) Where are some unhealthy places where you look for certainty? 2.) Why do you do that? 3.) What were some evidences of your perishable seed before you came to Christ? Any of that still lingering that needs to be repented from? 4.) Why does Peter call the Word of God the imperishable seed? 5.) In light of the text, how would you describe being "born again" to a 5-year-old? 6.) How has imperishable hope proven itself in your relationships? OR How might it if you lean into loving others earnestly? 7.) Why does Peter tell us that hope will be seen in our appetite for God's Word?
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